The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-08
A STORY OF THE WAR.
The Fate of a Young Soldier Made
Known After Twenty-four Years.


Known After Twenty-four Years.
From The 81. Louis Globe Democrat.
RALEIGH, N. c., Sept. 3O-One of the
romances of the war has just developed here,
in which the only son of one of North Caro-
linas Governors figures Gov. Todd r,
Caldwell during the war resided in hand
some style at the quiet little town of Nor
gantown. OF an old and honored family,
he was proud and had but one object of in
tense atfection-his son, John-a handsome
lad not 20 years of age. In the winter of
1862 this only son begged to be allowed to
go to the army. Entreaties were ofno avail,
and his father and his mother at last con-
sented, with tears, that he might join the
Army of Northern Virginia. He enlisted in
the Thirty-third regiment of North Caro-
Ina infantry, in Lanes brigade, Penders
division, A. p Hills corps.
When the campaign opened in. 1868 no
soldier was more daring than young Cald-
well, and he was soon promoted from the
ranks In May he was made a second lieu
tenant for his gallant and meritorous CON
ouct. His regiment went into the Pennsyl-
Vanla campaign. AT Gettysburg he was
present, and in the hottest of the fight. On
the afternoon of July 3, 1868, his regiment
swept up a slope within fifty yards of the
Federal lines, went closer yet, and bayonets
We're crossed Suddenly the line moved
back little. Young Caldwell was never
seen alive after that moment He was at
the front when the backward movement
began. His father used all the influence of
money and position to find the lost soldier,
but unavailingly. The authorities refused
10 allow the graves to be opened It could
NOT be ascertained whether he was dead or
alive, and the matter became one of the
most terrible uncertainties. Under the
strain the minds of the father and mother
We're nearly overcome. The father, grimly
nursing his great sorrow, forbade any one
10 mentlon the sons name, and the terrible
story was never alluded to, even by the
mother.
In lS11 Gen. Caldwell became Governor
Oh the State. Two years later, in 1873, an
gk-Confederate soldier named Lucas, from
hyde county, was elected TO the Legislature,
ana came TO Raleigh. Some one told him
one night the sad story OF the death, or
supposed death, and mystery of John Cald-
GCeH' The next day Lucas called on the
governor and told him the truth at last.
Lucas was in another regiment, and had
observed young Caldwelps brave bearing.
eS they were near together. In the terrible
lloment of the repulse he had seen young
NSaldwell shot down while separated from
MS men and fighting hand to hand New
iork soldier After hearing this story and
tle further details of the burial of Cald
well by Lucas, the Governor locked himself
ID his room and was all day in tears. He
never told his wife of the revelation by
tary.
=, \ lew days ago Maj Charles w. Cowtan,
o. o. New York city, wrote your correspon
uent saying that he had in his possession
commission of an officer in North Caro-
nm! INA regiment. which he had picked up on
.ne battlefield of Gettysburg. His regi-
.uIlent, the Tenth New York, held the line at
Una! mat point, just after terrible charge by
Tue North Carolinians, in which the fair
haired and boyish officer was brave in the
ee&treme; Maj. Cowtan had examined
some some of the dead Confederates, who so
onlekly strewed the grounds at the works,
and near one found torn and bloody COM
mission, on which was legible
9Cniy John Ca" of the name. Maj.
.1owtan expressed desire to return
nus commission il any relatives of the
dead soldier could be found. The commits
S 4 was found to be- that of the long-lost
'onn Caldwell. Yesterday the commission